The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-03-10
Ridoleberger Legislation.

ments on an article In the VIRGfNIAN of
last week referring to the Riddleberger bill
and the legislation of the Republican and
Democratic parties in connection with its
enforcement, says:
''Ihe blame for that settlements not having
been made final, iG would have Us believe rests
upon The Democratic party because 1t repealed
1.-The auxiliary legislation which gave 1t vitali-
ty aad TO make 1t effective" Of this 1t
says again that 1.-THE essential legislation that
was esigned to make the kiddlebarger calcu-
latiUn effective has been practically destroy
ed We commend the caution of our contem-
porary in avoiding the claim that that auxtl1a-
use of such prudent qualifications as ''sOGs to
make it effective" and twas designed to make
make the settlement effective that legislation
utterly failed. 1t was not amended by a Demo-
cratic Legislature till it was found to be utter
ly useless. If the Democratic Legislature had
not prepared and enacted measures to carry out
the Rfddlebarger settlement none would have
been so quick to accuse them of an abandonment
as the Republicans who are now finding fault
with them for whaS they did do. The so-calied
au Hillary legislation, even though 1t was not
was put into practice to be an absolute failure.
For such inadequate legislation the Republican
them to charge the Democratic party with not
having succeeded in doing what they SO signal
ly failed TO do Intensely esq
While it is not our purpose to enter
upon a protracted discussion of the debt
question at this time, inasmuch as Gov.
Lee has called the Legislature to meet in
extra session, We cannot permit the state
ment of our contemporary above quoted to
go unchallenged. When the Legislature
conyenes it viii have the whole question
before it, and can deal with it in the man
ner it may think best. When it has pre-
sented its conclusions in the form Of
enactments, We can then judge of them
upon their merits. If there is anything
to commend We shall not hesitate to COM
mend it. If there is anything That calls
for censure we shall not withhold it, al
though we trust we will be free from any
thing like partizan illiberality or injustice
in doing so.
But to the assumption. OF the State that
the auxiliary legislation enacted by the
Republicans was failure. That legisla-
tion was enacted in 1882 in opposition to
the organized efforts of the Democratic
party to defeat it. The Democratic Con-
yention Of 1888 simulated acquisescence in
and support of the measures it but recently
had bitterly denounced. In the election of
that year the Democrats carried the Leg
islature. and by revolutionary methods Sc
cured two thirds majority in that body,
which gave them entire control Of all leg
islation Independent of the veto of Re-
publican Executive. Among the first res
| olutions passed were several repudiating
the auxiliary legislation" which hal
passed successfully through the ordeal
Of the courts. These repeating acts
changed the whole character of the laws
to enforce the Riddleberger statement Of
the debt, and opened the way for the cred
itors to take their case to the courts, on a
clear point in their favor. Such a deci-
sion was rendered, and the whole question
opened again, with the coupons free to in
tercept the revenues on their way to the
treasury This statement cannot be sue
cessfuly refuted. 1t stands supported by
deliberately enacted laws, and places the
two classes of legislation III plain form be-
fore the country.
Between the period of the Riddleberger
legislation and the repeating acts of the
subsequent Legislature, there was no time
TO test the practical efficiency of the aux
iiiary legislation. The courts had passed
upon it approvingly, but before there was
a breathing spell, the excitement of leg
i5lative campaign commenced and as the
Democrats had been posing as ''debt-pay-
ers, "the bondholders naturally looked to
them for comfort and protection, not
withstanding their declared approval Of the
Riddleberger bill in their convention of
1888, and consequently did not fund in the
Riddleberger So.
To assume that the legislation of 1882
was inadequate with no opportunity
to test it except as to its constitutiona!ity,
is flying in the face of the facts. The es-
sential point had been -.gained-the appro-
val of the Court and Immediately sue
ceeding that the Democratic party, which
had opposed it, in formal convention de-
clared for it and when power was given
it,then proceeded to repeal the very acts it
had approved. It was then met by the
court with an adverse decision, pronoun-
cling the repeating acts unconstitutional,
thus leaving the whole .question in its
original condition and the Riddleberger
statement of the debt stripped of all sup
port and sustaining and enforcing legisla-
ton and to that must be charged the de-
feat of the whole scheme Of settlement
known as the Riddleberger acts.
: Had the Republicans gained the Legis.
lature of 1888, there would now be but
little controversy over the debt question,
1t would have been settled ISSUE The
coupons would have been starved out-the |
bondholders forced to refund in Riddle |
berger bonds, and the people free from the
agitation over the debt question. That |
this is not so, is due to the unconstitu-
Iional legislation Of 1884, enacted by a |
Democratic Legislature, and that party |
must and will be held responsible for the |
present condition of affairs, let its repre-
sentatives protest as they may. The Re.
publicans enacted constitutional legisla-
lion to enforce the Riddleberger bill. The
Democrats repealed this, and enacted I'M
legislation for that purpose.
That is the difference between the two
parties and their connection with the
bill.
The verbal criticism of the terms used
~ the VIRGINIAN is not exactly relevant.
The language used by US to describe the
ituation was appropriate for the reasons
bove assigned. The settlement was not
nd is not fixed fact, because time and
prevented. and the de
ign of the legislation could not for that
ause be effected before the Democrats
ot power and repealed it. AS we have {
tated, had the Republicans retained the I
ontrol of the Legislature in 1884, the
ebt question. we believe, would now be t
ettled and the design of the auxiliary |
'glslation" consulnmated.
In tie closing hours of the session. SEN
tor Hoar criticised in caustic terms the
surpation of Speaker Carlisle in refusing
recognize members who proposed legis-
ton which did not meet with the appro- =
Il of the Speaker. 1t was clearly, dis
nctly and unquestionably an unfair and =